Who isn’t intrigued by a ghost story? Some people are downright obsessed with them. But whether you carry around an infrared video camera, digital audio recorder, paranormal puck and ghost meter, or are just plain curious about local spirits, there are plenty
of unexplained occurrences to investigate in Chestertown and the surrounding countryside.
Why is it inns seem to have more than their fair share of ghosts ? Both the White Swan and Widow’s Walk Inn have permanent guests, the Victorian Lady and Walter, respectively. Further afield, the current owners of the Inn at Mitchell House have one room even their cats won’t enter. Most locals are familiar with Kitty Knight in her rocking chair, constantly on the lookout for the British. There’s also the permanently bloodstained rock at White House Farm; the story is that one of the daughters eloped, riding off into the night across the fields, fell off the horse, hit her head against a rock, and died.
Now serving as the residence of Washington College presidents, the Hynson Rynggold House reportedly has a haunted staircase. Of course, it could be one of the more recent college presidents, returning to check up on the current occupants. And a Woman in White has been known to float down the stairs in the River House, also on Water Street.
Perhaps the county’s most famous apparition is that of the Courthouse Ghost, a floating white orb bouncing slowly up and down the stairs in the Kent County Courthouse, and caught in 2004 by newly installed security cameras. The courthouse is situated over the site of an old cemetery; while most of the remains were relocated, it’s surmised that the building is haunted by one of the bodies never moved.
While many of the hauntings occur in older, historic locations, newer buildings are not immune to unexplained sounds and bumps in the night. A carpenter who worked at Andy’s, complained of odd noises, misplaced tools and ghostly taps on the shoulder. (Not I, dear reader, but perhaps one of my “spirited” regulars ?)
This is but a brief introduction to tales of ghostly doings- the Historical Society of Kent County is sponsoring Ghost Walks of Chestertown this weekend, complete with actual ghost hunters at the Geddes Piper House.
Friday, October 21 & Saturday, October 22
$12 adults/ $5 children 12 & under.
Tours beginning at 7:00 in front of the White Swan Tavern on High Street in Chestertown
Reservations please, call 410-778-3499, or email [email protected]. Sponsored by the Historical Society of Kent County
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